Palacio de Sancti Petri, Gran Meliá
Selected
Check Availability & Prices
Find the best rates for Palacio de Sancti Petri, Gran Meliá.
Check Availability on Booking.comView the official listing on the MICHELIN Guide.
Hotel Details
Location
Cádiz
Spain, Europe
Explore More Hotels
Key Highlights
- ✓Location**: Its direct beachfront access to the stunning La Barrosa Beach is a major draw, offering fabulous views and unforgettable sunsets.
Expert Review: Palacio de Sancti Petri, Gran Meliá
Palacio de Sancti Petri, a Gran Meliá in Cádiz, Spain, stands as a highly-regarded luxury retreat, celebrated for its opulent design, exceptional service, and prime beachfront location. As a Michelin Key Selected property, it promises and largely delivers a high standard of comfort and a memorable stay for its guests.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus among guests is overwhelmingly positive, with the hotel consistently earning "superb" or "wonderful" ratings, often scoring above 9 out of 10 on various platforms. Reviewers frequently use words like "amazing," "excellent," "fantastic," and "unbeatable" to describe their experiences, with many expressing a strong desire to return.
2. Key Highlights
Guests are particularly enamored with several aspects of the hotel:
- Service & Staff: The staff consistently receives accolades for being extremely friendly, helpful, professional, and attentive, often cited as making the stay truly special.
- Location: Its direct beachfront access to the stunning La Barrosa Beach is a major draw, offering fabulous views and unforgettable sunsets.
- Design: The hotel itself is an architectural marvel, described as an authentic Andalusian palace in the Nasrid style, featuring splendid marble patios, spectacular gardens, and Arab-style fountains that exude grandeur and blend seamlessly with the landscape.
- Amenities: The extensive facilities are a highlight, including multiple swimming pools (two outdoor, one indoor, and a private RedLevel pool), a luxurious Spa by Clarins, a children's club, a fitness center, and a free beach club. The RedLevel service is frequently praised for its exclusive perks, such as a separate breakfast area, unlimited snacks, and personalized attention.
3. Room Quality
The rooms are consistently described as luxurious, spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed, boasting an elegant Andalusian-style decor. Guests frequently highlight the extremely comfortable beds, ensuring a restful sleep. Modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, minibars, and safes are standard. Many accommodations offer breathtaking sea views or serene garden vistas, and most include private terraces, with some even featuring private gardens and Bali beds. The bathrooms are noted for being beautiful and spacious, often equipped with rainfall showerheads and designer toiletries.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel offers a diverse and high-quality gastronomic experience:
- Alevante: The crown jewel is the two-Michelin-starred Alevante, helmed by Ángel León, known as "The Chef of the Sea." It provides an exclusive culinary journey through creative and innovative local cuisine with a strong focus on fresh, seasonal maritime ingredients. Reservations are recommended for this gourmet experience.
- Breakfast: The buffet breakfast receives widespread acclaim for its variety, high quality, themed corners, live cooking stations, and delicious made-to-order omelets.
- Other Restaurants: Options include the elegant Andalusian-style El Patio Buffet for breakfast and dinner with live music and show cooking, the Don Fernando Gastrobar for tapas and market cuisine, the beachfront Duna for authentic Cadiz flavors and sunsets (seasonal), Entrevientos for fresh fish and aged meats, and the Entrecielos Rooftop & Raw Bar for magical sunset views and cocktails.
- Half-board options are available and generally well-received, though some guests have noted inconsistencies in the buffet dinner variety, finding it sometimes lacking or of poor quality in specific dishes. The à la carte restaurants, while excellent, are considered expensive. RedLevel guests enjoy a dedicated breakfast area and complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day.
5. Service & Staff
The hotel's staff is consistently a standout feature, praised for their exceptional professionalism, friendliness, and attentiveness. Guests report a high level of service, with staff going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. The dedication and welcoming nature of the team contribute significantly to the overall positive sentiment, with many specific mentions of staff members for their outstanding hospitality.
6. Location & Accessibility
Palacio de Sancti Petri enjoys a privileged and tranquil beachfront location directly on the extensive La Barrosa Beach in Chiclana de la Frontera. This allows for easy access to the golden sands and stunning sunsets. The hotel is framed by lush golf courses, contributing to its serene atmosphere. While offering a peaceful escape, it is also within walking distance of some shops and restaurants in the Novo Sancti Petri area. The town center of Chiclana de la Frontera is about 11 km away, and Jerez Airport is approximately 62 km from the property. Some guests, however, found the location less ideal for exploring the wider region if they did not plan to rely on external transport.
7. Value & Pricing
Many guests consider Palacio de Sancti Petri to offer excellent value for money, especially given its five-star luxury status and comprehensive amenities. On Booking.com, it scores 8.6/10 for "value for money". While an average room price hovers around $320, this is often seen as exceptional for the level of luxury provided. The RedLevel service, with its included snacks and drinks, is highlighted as adding to the perceived value. However, the à la carte dining options are noted to be on the pricier side.
8. Common Complaints
While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:
- Dining Consistency: A few guests have expressed dissatisfaction with the variety or quality of the main buffet dinner, citing it as occasionally inconsistent or featuring some poorly prepared dishes.
- Language Barrier: Some guests reported that certain staff members did not speak English, which posed a communication challenge.
- Minor Room Issues: Requests for more hangers in the rooms have been noted. Additionally, a lack of umbrellas on oceanfront suite terraces has led to discomfort during sunny and hot periods.
- External Factors: One review mentioned construction work behind the Red Level area, though it was not considered overly distracting.
- Limited Evening Entertainment: Some guests wished for more varied evening attractions.
- Guest Experience Proactivity: A comment suggested that the guest experience team could be more proactive in informing guests about the hotel's services.
- Alevante Preference: Despite its Michelin stars, a few guests found Alevante's specific culinary style not to their personal taste, especially considering the high cost of the meal and wine pairing.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:
- •Minor Room Issues**: Requests for more hangers in the rooms have been noted. Additionally, a lack of umbrellas on oceanfront suite terraces has led to discomfort during sunny and hot periods.
Accor